Blocked by construction? Church urges prayer

LIVONIA, Mich. — The Archdiocese of Detroit is encouraging motorists spending more time on the road because of a major freeway construction project to use that time to pray, officials announced Thursday.

The Roman Catholic archdiocese and Sacred Heart Major Seminary plan to give away prayer CDs to 96 motorists who will pray the rosary during their extra drive time.

“If we sincerely offer that time to God and pray, I can almost guarantee a peaceful commute instead of one so often filled with frustration and anger,” the Rev. Robert Spezia, undergraduate spiritual director and director of liturgy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, said in a statement.

“I would challenge drivers to try it for 30 days and see if it affects their attitude and their heart.”

The Interstate 96 project has closed the freeway in Livonia and Wayne County’s Redford Township, requiring motorists to take detours until October. The $148 million project to rebuild the roadway also includes bridge repair and replacement work.

“There are various depths at which we can pray the rosary and it will be more at the surface level if we pray it while driving,” Spezia said.

The prayer CD, titled “Beg the Master of the Harvest,” is a live vocal and musical recording of the rosary made in 2007 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.